Hard to get her to pose...

[Rocket_Scientist]

In the gallery, I called this "There must be two in the bush..."



My wife caught (literally) this Mam Cardinal in her duck house, and wanted me to take some pictures before she released her.

[Dylan8i]

you better watch out they give a hell of a bite...

shots like this allow for great up close detail.

[Loupey]

Not the most natural looking picture - but it is nature (at least half of it ).

Looks like a tight squeeze (I dunno - never held one like that) - hope everyone fared well.

Thanks for posting over here!

[Dylan8i]

yeah i was going to comment thats not how your suppose to hold them either... well not how bird banders hold them.

[dadas115]

I enjoy looking at pictures like this. They really give a feel for the size of these birds. It also reminds me of the time I had the pleasure (OK acute pain would be a better description) of helping to rescue a Red-tailed Hawk who had been hit by a car and had broken its wing. I wasn’t paying close enough attention and the bird grabbed my hand in its talons and all I can say is that they are quite strong and sharp.

Greg

[Rocket_Scientist]

Well, my wife learned "first-hand" how well they bite. Although it never broke the skin, it held on for quite a time when she tried to release it. This is not a usual activity, so I don't guess my wife ever learned any "proper" way to hold a wild bird.

[Jaedon]

Nice shot. At least your wife had the presence of mind to tell you to get your camera. My wife shoots first and then cleans up the mess before telling me about it =) ...and no.. she doesn't use a camera. What can I say .. I married a redneck woman.

If you are even in a situation like this slide bird between the first two fingers so that you have control of the head and make sure it is facing away from the the webbing between your fingers or else the pain she felt from the first bite will feel like a walk in the park in comparison. The hold was called the claw when I was in Vet school. We used it alot for domestic birds but I have seen banders use the same hold on wild birds. I have used it myself when catching birds that were trapped in bus shelters and such.

[paulnj]

That's just too cool !!